Analyzing A&P, Essay Example

Introduction

The A& P by Updike is a typical example of a short narrative that reflects on stereotypes, social norms, categories used by people to define others. The story is full of metaphors that signify categories that people apply to groups. The author assigns the narrator, Sammy to be the rebel and stand up for the girls, opposing judgment, prejudice, and discrimination. The work is more than a narrative: it show the reader how easy it is for humans to be prejudicial and discriminate against those who are different.

The author of the review would like to reveal parts of the texts where Updike shows the real nature of prejudice and discrimination.

In A & P, everyone is welcome who fits into the categories well known to the workers and visitors: mothers who shop for their kids, families, and young people who are “discreet”. Anything that does not comply with the unwritten social norms, just like the girls walking into the store in their swimming costumes, is unacceptable.

Analysis

Standard categories

The description of the customers by Sammy reveals that there are standard categories that every person in the town is trying to fit in. Those who belong to one of the accepted groups of the society in the quiet town, frown upon the girls who look out of place. As Updike (2) states: “A few houseslaves in pin curlers even look around after pushing their carts past to make sure what they had seen was correct”(Updike 3). While going out shopping with pin curlers is completely acceptable for thee “houseslaves” category, it is not allowed to walk into the store in swimming suits. Sammy uses several categories that he made up to easily describe the people and categorize them. One of the categories is “houseslaves”. Other people belong to the group of “responsible married men”, still others are in the “old party”(Updike 3). There are set categories in the town, not far away from Boston, but it is far from the large city based on mentality. It is a closed community that rejects every type of non-conformity.

Rejection of the “other”

Prejudice and discrimination are not only present among the “houseslaves”, who might be jealous of the girls’ youth, but also determines the store manager’s attitude towards the girls. When he sees them, he has two options: ignore them and wait until they finish their shopping, or defending the “moral” of the locals, and making remarks about their inappropriate clothing. He chooses the second option, because he wants to “impress the majority”, and fit in himself.

Lengel, the store manager tells the girls: “That’s policy for you. Policy is what the kingpins want. What the others want is juvenile delinquency”. He claims that he complies with policy, however, he simply confirms social norms generally accepted by the majority of the town’s residents. He does not want to argue, as it is not “the done thing”, but he believes that it is his job to remind the girls about social norms. He thinks that he needs to protect the interest of people and the community by not allowing delinquency. This protectionism is causing the rejection of new ideas. He does not tell women not to go in the shop with curlers, as it is accepted by most people. He does not only accept social norms, but owns them.

Sammy, the rebel

Sammy represents the person who is open to new ideas, accepts people who are different, and stands up by those oppressed. In school, he would be the one who stops the bullying of minority kids, and the first to start a conversation with them. Unlike other people in the store, he does not believe that he belongs to a category. And he does not expect others to belong to one, either. He creates individual categories for people in the store, and does not want to place them in a box. He creatively analyzes the appearance of the girls, calling the pretty one “Queenie”, the tall one “Big Tall Goony-Goony”, and the third “Plaid” (Updike 4).

Sammy does not agree with social norms, and feels restricted by them. He feels like he needs to do something to show his dissatisfaction, and he simply quits. It is a quiet resistance, but he stands up for his values and beliefs. He tries to defend the girls, telling the boss: “You didn’t have to embarrass them.” When he sees that it is impossible to reason with those who have social norms embedded in them, he quits.

Conclusion

Through the story of the girls’ visit to the store, Updike shows the readers how restrictive and damaging social norms can be. They can result in rejecting people, prejudice, and lack of openness. Lengel is not open to discussing the matter with Sammy: he simply says that he was right. He rejects any idea that does not confirm the social norms accepted by the local community. Sammy, however, is full of curiosity and imagination. He wants to get to know people and ideas that are different, unlike other, “normal” residents of the town. Through his rebellion, the author shows that there is a way out of conformity and complete obedience.

Updike, John “A & P” 1961. Print.